MikuMikuDance (MMD), a popular animation software, has sparked interest among creators in Asia as the popularity of Vtubing and VR has grown exponentially since 2020. The question of whether you can earn money with MMD is quite straightforward, though it depends on several factors. In this article, we answer these questions:

• What content you can you monetize?
• What kind of platform you use to distribute your MMD content?
• How much do you earn with patronage?

MMD Community Primary Rule

Making a great MMD video takes a lot of effort and free mods. As a general rule of thumb, if you did not make something yourself, you cannot earn money with it without strict permission being given to you by the content creator. This applies to:

• Models
• Parts and costumes
• Textures
• Motions and poses
• Stages
• Effects
• Songs

Direct MMD Monetization Methods

Selling Your Original Models

Yes. If you've made a model entirely from scratch, including all parts and textures, without using a base model, you're in the clear to monetize it. However, even a single unoriginal part disqualifies it for monetization.

Monetizing Poses and Motions

Yes. Original poses and motions, not derived from copyrighted materials, can be monetized. Be cautious with motions related to specific copyrighted sources.

Photo Commissions

Yes and No. These are permissible only if everything in the picture (models, stages, accessories, and effects) is your original creation. Using any external elements, even if they're edits, disqualifies it for profit-making.

Selling Editing Models From Others

No. Charging for time and effort spent on editing models still counts as profiting from someone else's work. Even if you're using parts downloaded from elsewhere, the final product isn't entirely your creation, hence it's not yours to sell.

Monetize Models from Games

No. Using models with an IP will get you legal issues, especially with big gaming companies. Avoid directly monetizing models ripped from games. However, you can make fanfiction off the models as content and see if people will donate to you for your efforts. We will talk about how much you can earn later in this article.

Distribute Your MMD Content

You need to respect the terms and conditions of the platform you use to share your MMD content, such as YouTube, DeviantArt, or Patreon. YouTube and patronage platforms are more of a grey area, as you are not monetizing content directly.

DeviantArt, on the other hand, offers virtual currency, including DeviantArt points, which are convertible to real money. According to DeviantArt's terms and conditions, regardless of the amount used, means of acquisition, attribution, profit motive, others' usage, or minor alterations, any recognizable copyrighted material requires the owner's permission for use, and it's essential to carefully review licenses, like the various Creative Commons versions, to understand the specific permissions granted.

Other platforms worth mentioning:

• www.bilibili.com/v/douga/mmd/
• mikuclub.win
• nicovideo.jp
• bowlroll.net
  

MMD Hentai Market

The MMD hentai community, much like other anime markets, is substantial and highly profitable. With over 20,000 monthly searches, MMD Hentai is a major segment. The primary platform for MMD adult content is Iwara.tv, offering the most used language options in MMD communities, Japanese, Chinese, and English. One of the most popular creator is Bengugu, who has over 6,000 members on Patreon and an active community on Twitter/X with over 150k followers. On Iwara, creators can establish a shop by subscribing to its premium plan, payable through ACH, WeChat, Alipay, and PayPal. However, I would recommend considering opening your shop in a patronage account instead, which is more safe and provides more payment/ withdrawal options.

Where to distribute your MMD hentai:

• ero-mmd.com
• erommdtube.com
• Fantia.jp
• Oreno3d.com
• Rule34video.party
• Sinsimmd.com
  

Earn Money with Patronage Platform

For individuals seeking to earn money while avoiding legal risks, consider indirect monetization methods like setting up a patronage account on platforms such as Ko-fi or Patreon. As with many fandom communities, you're permitted to sell content to viewers who wish to voluntarily support your work. Let’s explore the potential earnings of veteran MMD creators.

The average monthly donation these creators receive is $229.50, with an average of 63 paid members. A few outliers earn between $2,000 and over $10,000 per month, typically having an average of 1,124 paid members. Their success can be attributed to producing high-quality 2K/4K videos and, most notably, NSFW content.

When initiating a patronage account, remember that your options extend beyond just Patreon and Ko-fi. Typically, Ko-fi is recommended for creators in the West, but since it prohibits adult content, Patreon may be the better choice for such material. For those in Asia, Fanbox or Unifans are preferable due to their integration with Wise, as opposed to PayPal which incurs significant currency exchange fees. Opting for Wise could result in savings of over 3%. For additional recommendations on patronage platforms, consider exploring our article on membership alternatives.